Jeannette Y. Wick, RPh, MBA, FASCP

Does bariatric surgery prolong life? Past research has shown that this surgery initiates sustainable weight loss, sends type 2 diabetes into remission, and reduces cardiovascular disease.

The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) has tracked changes in dyslipidemia and blood pressure in children since 1988. A new report in JAMA Pediatrics indicated that serum lipid concentrations improved in American children and adolescents since 1988.

Cardiac arrests often occur at home. The American Heart Association estimated that roughly one million Americans suffer heart attacks annually; 88% occur at home, and patients have a 50-50 chance of reaching the hospital alive.

Researchers from the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism at the University of California, San Francisco analyzed the impact of virtual consultations on the spectrum and volume of endocrine consults. They measured access to endocrine care and downstream health care utilization. Their results indicate that virtual consultation offers many advantages for endocrinologists.

Type 1 diabetes mellitus is an autoimmune disease in which the body destroys all or part of its own roughly 1 billion β cells and cannot regenerate these critical endocrine components. Researchers have turned their attention to immunotherapies for treatment, postulating that targeting the immune system might restore β-cell function. It appears that combination therapies may be needed since clinical trial results have not met expectations based on animal studies.

Researchers conducted a randomized lifestyle intervention study in 165 patients who had undergone RYGB surgery to determine the magnitude of health and comorbidity improvements, change in psychopharmacologic drug use and change in employment over 2 years.

Among the approximately 382 million people who have type 2 diabetes (T2DM) worldwide, approximately 20% live in South-East Asia and 65.1 million live in India. Asian populations are racially, demographically, culturally and socioeconomically heterogeneous. Researchers have identified unique trends in Asians diagnosed with T2DM.

The most common causes of lipodystrophy are insulin injection, antiretroviral drugs, and hereditary disorders. Some patients with insulin-related lipodystrophy also develop metabolic dysfunction, including insulin resistance, elevated free fatty acids level, abnormal adipocytokine secretion, and ectopic fat deposition.

A study in The American Surgeon looked at workforce shortage predictions with respect to surgeon-intensivists, and weighed the effect that increased workload and expected increase in critical care demand could have on patient safety.

Many patients with chronic subdural hematomas are referred to neurosurgeons who generally agree that surgical drainage is warranted. Controversy surrounds the decision as to which drainage method is best because evidence is lacking. Surgeons often therefore select the procedure based on other factors.

Approximately 20% of women develop leiomyomas during their childbearing years. When these uterine fibroids cause excessive bleeding, pelvic pain, cramping, or painful intercourse, surgery is indicated. Hysterectomy is an appropriate choice for women who are done with childbearing, but for women with childbearing plans for the future, myomectomy is an option. However, hemorrhage is a common complication during myomectomy.

Some studies have suggested that advanced age may be associated with poor post-revision outcomes in cochlear reimplantation. Investigators from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have completed a study that asks whether advanced age should be a contraindication for revision cochlear implantation.

Endoscopically guided removal of bridging tissue between ostia can alleviate sinusitis, congestion, and other symptoms caused by mucous recirculation.

Surgeons have traditionally repaired cleft palate using relaxing incision to close the palate, but this surgery has been linked to palatal fistulas and other complications. A recent study in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery described predictive associations of persistent palatal fistulas in patients with a previously repaired cleft palate.

Reports had suggested that mitochondria in adipocytes may potentially have central roles in regulating substrate metabolism, energy expenditure, and the disposal of reactive oxygen species.

Several epidemiological studies have linked abnormal thyrotropin levels with an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in women, researchers found.

Several studies have reported that controlling blood pressure with medication improves cardiovascular outcomes.

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) reported that one in 10 American adults had some level of chronic kidney disease (CKD), and that kidney disease is the 9th leading cause of death in the US.

Trypanosoma cruzi is an insect-borne protozoan parasite and one of the world's most infectious diseases. It causes Chagas disease, which the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) classified as one of 5 neglected parasitic infections.

In recent years, growing understanding of diabetes has led to its recognition as a multifaceted disease that cannot simply be dichotomized into its 2 most common subgroups.

How valid is the information and advice dispensed by Dr. Oz and other TV doctors?

Hypophysitis is a rare, complex condition in which inflammation infiltrates the pituitary gland. It used to be considered a condition solely affecting peripartum women, but better diagnostics have identified this condition in other patients.

Adult male hypogonadism (HG) is the most common form of diminished gonadal activity in men. Most clinicians prescribe testosterone replacement therapy to treat primary HG, but other therapeutic options are available.

Renal clearance can be significantly elevated in the critically ill. Treating these patients with renally cleared drugs can present a problem. Drugs-whisked through the body with greater than expected efficiency, a process called augmented renal clearance (ARC)-reach only suboptimal levels and, consequently, patients experience no improvement or actual clinical decline. ARC is often associated with elevated urinary creatinine clearance.

In March 2014, the Society of Surgical Oncology Susan G. Komen for the Cure Symposium focused on the literature on the epidemiology, molecular pathology, and therapy considerations of triple-negative breast cancer. The Annals of Surgical Oncology has published a summary of this work ahead of print.

Smoking rates were found to be higher in men than in women, but decreasing in both sexes – reports had indicated the rates may be increasing in young women. Previous studies have shown women become addicted to nicotine faster and have greater difficulty quitting smoking due to more intense cravings when stimulated by cues than men.

JAMA Psychiatry has published a study ahead of print examining the relationship between PTSD and T2DM in Nurses' Health Study II participants. The study questioned whether PTSD increased the risk of T2DM among civilians, and the magnitude of change. The findings indicated a positive association.

Facial fractures are a frequent cause for emergency department (ED) visits, costing the US economy about $1 billion every year. These fractures can occur due to a variety of traumas, including motor vehicle accidents, sports injuries, person-to-person violence, and falls. Identifying trends could help ED personnel and surgeons anticipate common problems.

Researchers recently used a 3-D printer to create case-specific models that can aid in accurate, extensive preoperative planning.

Ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction-or the Tommy John procedure as it's known to sports fans-has come a long way since its invention in 1974. It's not only a more refined procedure today, it's more popular.